As an audience member my favorite place to sit was center about half way up the balcony. Even then (with the earlier fish scale detailed shell) whenever the piccolos or trumpets played I could distinctly hear them bounce off the high left wall behind me and into my left ear. I always found it funny that the high priced seats in the mezzanine had the worst sound of all. Although I love the almost domestic intimacy of the space.

Henry, I agree with almost all which you just wrote. But, maintain all you wish, without any evidence, your conjecture is speculation. That’s the only point I was making.

I’m life long Rochestarian, btw. I sang in the renovated theater a couple of weekends ago and the sound, while modestly improved, is still not ideal. (And, Eastman is turning in his grave over the additions of boxes, for the elite, to his theater.)

Gloriously, the new Hatch Recital Hall has world class acoustics and a beautifully matched new Steinway concert grand. It is a exquisitly handsome minimalist space, as well.

Not trying to be disagreeable here but, the fact that one small part of Eastman’s plan to bring classical music to the people failed was not the cause of his suicide. He had been ill for two years, was in severe pain, could walk only with great effort, and had witnessed his mother’s incapacity by a slow painful death. As he said in his letter “My work is done. Why wait?”.

There are a series of murals on either side of the theater, 8 total, each representing a type of music. On the left side, if one is facing the stage, are paintings by Ezra Winter titled “Festival,” “Lyric,” “Martial,” and “Sylvan Music.” Ezra also painted the polychrome ceiling. The right wall, done by Barry Faulkner contains “Religious,” “Hunting,” “Pastoral,” and “Dramatic Music.”